Exmoor and Dartmoor National Parks boosted by superfast broadband

Collaboration
between Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks with the Connecting Devon &
Somerset programme is set to transform rural communities with superfast fibre
broadband internet speeds.

Connecting Devon and Somerset is working in close partnership with
Dartmoor
and Exmoor National Parks, to achieve additional funding for broadband
connectivity as part of the current programme. This has so far resulted in extra
funding of over £700,000 to extend coverage for superfast broadband in hard to
reach communities across the two parks with speeds of up to 24mbps.

Once engineering work is completed by the Connecting Devon and
Somerset programme, more than three quarters of all premises in Dartmoor and 69
percent in Exmoor will be given the opportunity to sign on by the end of 2016. This
has been made possible by the additional funding secured by the Connecting
Devon and Somerset partnership and the support of Devon and Somerset County
Councils.

In addition, two harder to reach rural communities in Exmoor
will have the opportunity to pilot a new superfast broadband scheme using a mix
of satellite and wi-fi technology. The project is being led by technology firm 'Satellite Internet', who were one of
eight successful bidders for the Government's Broadband Innovation Fund.
Satellite Internet is now working with Connecting Devon and Somerset and Exmoor
National Park Authority to pilot the new patented wireless mesh technology
within the remotely located communities, who would otherwise not benefit from
Superfast Broadband at this current time.

Chief Executive of Exmoor National Park Authority Dr Nigel Stone said:
"We are hugely aware of the importance of
connecting some of our most rural communities, to benefit both domestic and
business interests alike. We have put in significant effort to secure greater
superfast broadband coverage throughout Exmoor and we are very pleased that
this work is starting to pay off. The partnership we have built with Connecting
Devon and Somerset to secure additional funding for these hard to reach areas
is something to be proud of. We would like to thank Connecting Devon and
Somerset and Devon and Somerset County Councils for their on-going support and
co-operation.

Not only have we been able to increase the reach of the current Connecting
Devon and Somerset programme, we have also been able to secure a national
pilot. This will enable us to bring forward new technologies to improve the situations
of those in more remote communities. We
will continue to support the superfast extension programme in an effort to
provide further connections in the future."

The funding will bring superfast broadband service within reach of
rural communities and businesses based in our National Parks; allowing them to
use tools that can improve how they work, improve productivity and reduce
costs.

Chief
Executive of Dartmoor National Park Authority Kevin Bishop said: "Improved
broadband coverage on Dartmoor is a top priority for the National Park
Authority. We have worked hard with the Connecting Devon and Somerset
Partnership to achieve improvements on Dartmoor and to secure additional money
to extend the existing programme, and connect so-called 'hard to reach
areas'. We recognise how important broadband connectivity is to Dartmoor
communities – it is an essential service to help people, work, live, learn and
play.

"Much of this
work goes unseen; it has taken us over two years to secure the additional money
for Dartmoor and Exmoor. We are pleased that 75% of premises in Dartmoor
National Park will benefit from superfast broadband by the end of the current
programme, and we will continue to try and find solutions and funding to ensure
the remaining hard to reach areas can benefit from this essential
service."

For more information on future superfast broadband coverage visit the
map on the CDS website (www.connectingdevonandsomerset.co.uk), which
also incorporates the coverage secured by additional funding.